Do you remember what you learned in high school biology? Perhaps you read from a 300-page textbook or took countless multiple choice tests. Chances are you weren’t finishing homework while holding a bearded dragon, but students at a Texas high school do. Shelley Meyers, science ...

 C.Roselina Angel, Ph.D. Purina Mills, Inc.P.O. Box 66812 St. Louis, MO 63166(Note: This article first appeared in the 1993 Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. It is repri...

Few things are more rewarding than soaking in the natural beauty of exotic animals. From brightly colored feathers to vibrant scales and skin, exotic animals offer an element of beauty that enriches the lives of animal owners and observers.   But keeping these animals looking and ...

From alligators to orangutans, each animal has specific nutritional needs. In addition to these specific nutritional needs, the shape and size of the feeds we provide can have an impact on the animal’s well-being.   For example, the ability for feed to float on water is crit...

Loretta Lynch once said, “We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generations.” Conservation of these species is an ongoing challenge that requires the help of many people working toward a common goal. &nbs...

NUTRIENTS grams per 1000 kcal ME    

Objectives:   When crickets and meal worms are used in the diet for exotic animals, calcium can be a limiting nutrient. Low dietary calcium and a calcium:phosphorus ratio that is lower than what is optimal for the animal’s nutrient requirement can result in metabol...

Mazuri® gel diets offer a unique way to provide complete nutrition and moisture in a highly palatable food item. Mazuri gel diets come in a wide array of formulations designed to fit the needs of virtually any feeding program. Making Mazuri gel diets is incredibly simple, and mixing d...

Warm socks. Cozy scarves. Comfortable sweaters. An alpaca is born with the ability to produce fine, high-quality fiber for soft, warm clothing. But, did you know fiber quality can be managed over time? One way alpaca owners are discovering they can improve fleece quality is through nutrition. ...

With proper nutrition and management, exotic birds can be a playful, life-long friend.  Imagine if your pet could ask, “How are you doing?” or answer “Hello!” when the phone rings. If you are an exotic bird owner, this may be an everyday occurrence for ...

A proactive approach to managing weight can keep your mini pig happy and healthy.  It’s said that good things come in small packages. Perhaps that’s why mini pigs are making a comeback as one of today’s hottest pets. Questions to ask before owning a mini pig

Passerines in a Rehabilitation Setting   Eileen Seage, 2nd year veterinary student, University of Pennsylvania Erica Miller, DVM, Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, Inc. Liz Koutsos, PhD, PMI Nutrition   Abstract Formula for Nest...

Nestled in 60-acres of the wooded Mississippi River Valley in eastern Missouri, a devoted group of caretakers are saving wolves and other wild canids from extinction at the Endangered Wolf Center. This unique facility was founded in 1971 by noted biologist, and television host of Mutual of Omaha&rsq...

Shrinking polar ice caps and the future of polar bears frequently makes media headlines around the globe. Regardless of the ultimate cause of climate change, sea-ice habitat for polar bears has been reducing, which limits the time they can hunt their prey successfully. This decrease in food resource...

C.Roselina Angel, Ph.D. Purina Mills, Inc.P.O. Box 66812 St. Louis, MO 63166  ABSTRACT   Vitamin and mineral levels were determined in the eggs of ostriches and compared with poul...

What birds can be fed bird gel during development?  Below is a list of bird species that can be fed ZuLife® Bird gel while they are developing:   Toco toucanKeel-billed toucanViolaceous touracoBlack-neck...

Have you ever considered a waste management company would work in tandem with an exotic animal ranch? At Texas Disposal Systems, the Gregory family has provided a platform for the two to go hand in hand.   “Our primary business is the commercial garbage business,” says...

E. Koutsos1, C. Kuball2, M. Griffin3, S. Tornquist4, K. Flegel5 and N. Evans6 Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition/Purina Mills LLC, 100 Danforth Dr, Gray Summit, MO 63039,1,2 and 3 Currently: Omega Pro...

5 elements for a complete and balanced reptile diet Do you know how much calcium or protein is in a bug or rodent? Before you pop a pinkie mouse in the tank or corral the crickets, consider the essential elements of a reptile nutrition plan.   “Reptile diets should...

Three stories of exotic animals helping people face life’s obstacles. Ruffled feathers. Scaly skin. Hard shell. Those might not sound like the most comforting words; however, the animals that fit these descriptions have amazing healing powers. For many people around the globe, exotic...

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin E remains the only major vitamin where the synthetic form differs significantly from the natural form. As more is learned about the function of this vitamin the difference appears to have a greater effect on many biological functions.   STRUCTU...

Expanding into new international markets is exciting for Carlos Gutiérrez, an International Feed Manager for Mazuri® responsible for account management, sales, and product registration across the globe. In recent years, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa have seen a tremendous amo...

To switch birds from their current diet to a Mazuri diet and Colorful Companions bird seed blends, do a gradual changeover, starting with 90 percent of their current diet and 10 percent Mazuri diet. Increase the amount of Mazuri diet by 10 percent each day and decrease the amount of t...

The International Wild Waterfowl Association (IWWA) recently held its Future of Waterfowl Conservation Workshop, and one point of discussion was related to the nutritional needs of different types of waterfowl in various settings. Held at the Sylvan Height...

Elephants in captivity often have much lower levels of serum vitamin E as compared to their wild counterparts. For example, African bush elephants translocated from Swaziland to the U.S. had serum vitamin E that dropped from 0.41 μg/ml in the wild to 0.13 μg /ml after four years in captivity (...

Established in 2012, the Wild Animal Health Fund was conceptualized by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians to help build a deeper understanding for treating and caring for exotic animals and wildlife. From elephants to hummingbirds and everything in between, the Wild Animal Health Fund is ...

The chart below compares the differences between Mazuri Carnivore Supplement for Whole Prey with Mazuri Carnivore Supplement for Slab Meat.     

Choosing the best alpaca diet is based on the lifestage (e.g., growing, reproducing or maintenance) and lifestyle (e.g., showing or pleasure animal) of your alpaca. Each Mazuri® diet was designed in conjunction with a leading alpaca veterinarian and nutritionist, Dr. Norm Evans. All have been te...

Choosing the best aquatic gel diet is based on the species you are feeding, and its wild-type feeding habits (e.g., carnivorous, omnivorous, herbivorous) and lifestage (e.g., growing, reproducing or maintenance). For more information on any of these die...

Choosing the best Mazuri® Llama Diet is based on the life stage (e.g. growing, reproducing or maintenance) and lifestyle (e.g. showing or pleasure animal) of your camelid.  Each of these diets are designed by a nutritionist and have been tested for palatability. 

The chart below compares Mazuri® Giraffe Diets with recommendations from the Giraffe Nutrition Workshop.    

January 30, 2017 Dear Mazuri® Customer,   We wish to inform you of changes to the Mazuri® Cricket Diet (5M7Q). The packaging size will move from a 50 lb. bag to a 40 lb. bag due to manufacturing changes in 2016 which ma...

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December16,2016   Nutritionists at Mazuri® Exotic Animal Nutrition have revised the Polar Bear Diet and the Bear Diet. These products have been completely revised and were fed too polar, brown, and black bear...

Updated Mazuri® Parrot and Small Bird Diets                  ...

Creating the ‘ideal insect’ Giant anteaters, Sudan plated lizards and pileated woodpeckers may seem like they have nothing in common, but they all share a common bond as members of a diverse group of animals called insectivores. Insectivores, those that thrive on ...

Choosing the correct biscuit will depend on the type of primate and health status of the animal. Diabetic animals will do best on a low starch and sugar diet (Primate LS), but other primates would also benefit from this higher fiber and low starch diet. Consult individual diet spec sheets for full n...

The stability of nutrients in Mazuri® products is dependent on proper storage conditions. We recommend storing product in a cool, dry place at 75°F or cooler, and less than 55% relative humidity. Storage at higher temperatures and humidity levels will reduce nutrient concentrations and ...

Mini pigs: What makes mini pig…mini?  Mini pigs can make great pets. They are smart, quirky, clean and hypoallergenic. They have unique personalities and are easy to train. Despite all the great things about mini pigs, many are still surrendered to rescues when...

Is a mini pig right for you? 5 tips to consider Mini pigs are making a comeback from the height of pot-bellied mania of the 1980s. The internet seems to be full of pictures of mini pigs in costumes, taking naps and living the best pig life. While mini pigs certainly make g...